EVERY page - "Not responding"

[Guest]

When I have my browser open and I click a link or the "back" button, the next
page will appear to open completely. As soon as I try to scroll or click
another link the browser freezes up and I get a white border around the edge
of my browser. If I click anywhere on the window again the border goes dark
and the top of the window says "not responding". This happens with every
single page I open. After a few seconds it will unfreeze and all is well.
As soon as I go to another page or click the "back" or "forward" icons the
next page will open and freeze up again.

I keep my cache cleared and I run Norton Internet Security with LiveUpdate.
NIS automatically runs a full scan once a week and it tells me I don't have
any viruses, spyware or adware. Restarting my computer doesn't help, I have
no extra toolbars and no unnecessary programs running in the background. I
have 320 MB of RAM and store all pics, movies and music on an external hard
drive. With 5 apps running my CPU usage is between 15-30%. So why does this
keep happening?

Thanks!
Mark

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

When I have my browser open and I click a link or the "back" button, the
next
page will appear to open completely. As soon as I try to scroll or click
another link the browser freezes up and I get a white border around the
edge
of my browser. If I click anywhere on the window again the border goes
dark
and the top of the window says "not responding". This happens with every
single page I open. After a few seconds it will unfreeze and all is well.
As soon as I go to another page or click the "back" or "forward" icons the
next page will open and freeze up again.

I keep my cache cleared and I run Norton Internet Security with
LiveUpdate.
NIS automatically runs a full scan once a week and it tells me I don't
have
any viruses, spyware or adware. Restarting my computer doesn't help, I
have
no extra toolbars and no unnecessary programs running in the background.
I
have 320 MB of RAM and store all pics, movies and music on an external
hard
drive. With 5 apps running my CPU usage is between 15-30%. So why does
this
keep happening?

Thanks!
Mark

No one program catches all malware, especially not Norton. Do a thorough
malware check following the steps on one of these sites:
All MS-MVP Sites.
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
(http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html)
(http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm)

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
For quite a few people it's by installing Messenger Plus, whose ads for
malware don't identify the malware as such and try to convince you that you
owe it to the author. See also:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971
Don't ever do a "default" install of anything. Always choose Custom and see
what else is being carried along. Don't install any extras you're not sure
of.